Fluid operated electrical switch utilizing a detent positioning means



Jan. 27, 1970 F. v. PONTERIO 3,492,451

FLUID OPERATED ELECTRICAL SWITCH UTILIZING A DETENT POSITIONING MEANSFiled Sept. 1, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4/ m1- /7 Z4 x -4 r 2/ T 1 2 a 7"?/f. /44 yy 42 JEJA- ,7

Jan. 27, 1970 F. v. PONTERIO 3,492,451 FLUID OPERATED ELECTRICAL SWITCHUTILIZING A DETENT POSITIONING MEANS Filed Sept. 1, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR. W6 F/PA/VA/ 1 pan/raw United States Patent 3,492,451 FLUIDOPERATED ELECTRICAL SWITCH UTILIZ- ING A DETENT POSITIONING MEANS FrankV. Ponterio, Staten Island, N.Y., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation,Ford Instrument Company Division,

Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 1, 1967,Ser. No. 665,137 Int. Cl. H01h 35/40, 3/00, 9/00 U.S. Cl. zoo-81.9 10Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The instant invention relates toelectrical switches and more particularly relates to a switch that isoperated in response to the momentary application of a fluid jet.

For the most part, fluid operated miniature switches of the prior artare of the piston or diaphragm types. Such prior art switches arepressure operated and require the continuous application of pressure inorder to maintain the switch actuated. For missile safing and armingapplications, switches are often required to operate during the boostphase and remain actuated until the end of flight. As applied to priorart piston and diaphragm type switches, this requirement imposes bothsize and weight penalties on the fiuidic power supply in that acontinuous fluid flow is required to maintain continuous pressure.

The instant invention overcomes the disadvantages above noted byproviding a fluid operated switch that is actuated by momentary gas flowand is mechanically latched in the actuated position. Fluid power is notrequired to maintain the switch in its actuated position.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide anovel construction for a miniature fluid operated switch.

Another object is to provide a switch of this type that is capable ofoperation in high acceleration environments.

Still another object is to provide a switch of this type that ismechanically latched in the actuated position.

A further object is to provide a switch of this type that is operated bythe momentary application of a fluid actuating signal to effect apermanent change of state.

These, as well as other objects of this invention will become readilyapparent after reading the following description of the accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIGURES 1 and 1A are longitudinal cross-sections taken through therespective lines 1-1 and 1A1A looking in the directions of therespective arrows 1, 1 and 1A, 1A, and illustrating a fluid operatedlatching switch constructed in accordance with the teachings of theinstant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view partially in section of the movable structure ofthe switch of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the bearing race of the switch of FIGURE 1having detent formation therein.

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 showing another embodiment of theinstant invention.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing still another embodimentof the instant invention.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the rotary switch member of FIGURE 5 (lookingin the direction of arrows 66 of FIGURE 5) together with fragmentaryportions of additional switch elements to show the positions thereofrelative to the rotary element.

Now referring to the figures and more particularly to FIGURES 1 through3. Switch device 10 includes annular housing 11 closed at the bottom andopen at the top. Lower thrust bearing race 12 is fixedly secured to thebottom wall of housing 11 and supports four ball bearings 14 maintainedin a circular array by ring-like retainer 14a. In turn, bearings 14support upper bearing race 15.

Race 15 is fixedly secured to and concentric with axial entension 16 ofturbine member 17. Disk-like spring 20, retained by ring 19, provides aclosure for the upper end of housing 11 and, acting through thrustbearing 18, exerts a downward force on member 17. Electrical contactorring 21 is concentrically mounted on axial extension 16 and secured tothe lower surface of member 17 with insulating ring 22 being interposedbetween upper bearing race 15 and contactor 21.

As will hereinafter be explained, contactor 21 provides means forbridging spaced contacts 24, 25 fixedly mounted to the lower end ofhousing 11 on insulators 26, 27, respectively. Terminals 34, 35,extending through insulating bushings 29, 28, respectively, in the sideof housing 11, engage stationary contacts 24, 25 respectively, andprovide means for making external circuit connections to switch device10.

Jet forming nozzles 30, 31 extend through apertures in the side ofhousing 11 and are positioned to direct jets of fluid against theconcave surfaces of turbine buckets or blades 40, 41, respectively, ofnumber 17 to impart angular movement to member 17 and the other elements, including contactor 21 and upper bearing race 15, securedthereto.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the limits of axial movement for turbinemember 17 are established by so-called zero detents 38 and operatingdetents 39 formed at the bottom of annular raceway 42 in the uppersurface of lower bearing race 12. Detents 38, 39 are formed by drillingaxially extended holes in member 12. There are four zero detents 38 withequal angular spacings therebetween each pair of adjacent zero detents38, there is an operating detent 39.

With the elements of switch device 10 in the positions shown in FIGURE1, each ball bearing 14 is located by an individual zero detent 38.Bearings 14 and zero detents 38 are so proportioned that bearings 14maintain a sufficient separation between bearing races 12, 15 so that aspace 43 exists between contactor 21 and stationary contacts 24, 25 andswitch device 10 is open.

Application of high pressure fluid to nozzles 30, 31 creates jets whichimpinge on turbine blades 40, 41 cansing clockwise rotation of member17. Suflicient axial force is exerted by spring 20 so that the frictionbetween bearing races 12, 15 and ball bearings 14 cause the latter toleave zero detents 38 and roll along raceway 42 until entering operatingdetents 39. By this time the forces of the jets issuing from nozzles 30,31 exert little, if any, force tending to rotate turbine member 17.Further, ball bearings 14 and operating detents 39 are so proportionedthat upper bearing race 15 moves axially toward lower bearing race 14with contactor 21 engaging stationary contacts 24, 25. Contact pressureis supplied by spring 20.

Thus, it is seen that the momentary application of high pressure fluidto jet forming nozzles 30, 31 causes rotorassembly 15, 17, 21 to pivotuntil spherical bearings 14 drop into operating detents 39 at which timespring 20 moves rotor assembly 15, 17, 21 axially to drive contactorring 21 into electrical engagement with stationary contacts 24, 25 toclose switch and the cooperation of spherical bearings 14 and operatingdetents 39 maintains switch 10 closed when fluid pressure is no longerapplied at nozzles 30, 31. Rotor assembly 15, 17, 21 is essentially abalanced structure so that even though spring exerts relatively littleforce switch 10 will not accidently open or close.

The embodiment of the instant invention illustrated in FIGURE 4 issimilar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3, theessential diflerence being that the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 3includes a thrust bearing while the embodiment of FIGURE 4 includes aradical bearing, the latter permitting greater axial movement of therotor assembly consisting of the turbine member and elements securedthereto.

More particularly, switch device 50 of FIGURE 4 includes annular housing51 closed at the bottom and open at the top. Outer bearing race 52,disposed within housing 51, is fixedly secured to the side wall ofhousing 51. A plurality of ball bearings 54, only two of which are shownin FIGURE 4, are interposed between outer and inner bearing races 52,53.

Inner bearing race 53 is fixedly secured to turbine member 55 whichcarries contactor ring 56 insulated from inner bearing race 53 by ring57. Spring disk 58 provides a closure at the upper end of housing 51and, acting through thrust bearing 59, exerts a downwardly directedaxial force on turbine member 55. Nozzles 60, and 61 extend through theside of housing 51 to direct fluid jets against the blade formations ofturbine member 55 to cause rotation of the latter.

Spaced contacts 62 (only one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 4) aremounted to insulators 63 secured to an internal ledger in the side wallof housing 11. Each of the contacts 62 is connected to an individualswitch terminal 64 by a lead extending through an insulating insert 66in the side wall of housing 51.

Operating detents 67 are formed by slots extending axially and downwardfrom raceway 68 in the interior surface of outer race member 52. Zerodetents (not shown) are formed in a manner similar to operating detents67. As in the case of the detents formed in raceway of FIGURE 3, thezero detents for the embodiment of FIGURE 4 are much smaller thanoperating detents 67.

The elements of FIGURE 4 are shown in the positions occupied whenbearings 54 are not in either zero or operating detents. Just as in theembodiment of FIG- URES 1 through 3, with bearings 54 in the zerodetents, switch is open in that contactor ring 56 is spaced fromcontacts 62. When turbine is pivoted to a position wherein bearings 54are aligned with operating detents 67, spring 58 forces bearings 54downward into operating detents 67 and drives contactor ring 56 intofirm engagement with spaced contacts 62 to close switch 50.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 5 and 6, fluid bearing means are providedto support the rotor assembly during pivotal motion thereof. That is,switch of FIGURE 5 is provided with annular housing 101 closed at thetop by disk spring 102 and having a centrally located fluid inlet 103 atthe lower end thereof. Rotor assembly 10S, consisting of contactcarrying disk 106 and turbine member 107, is mounted within housing 101and is urged downwardly by spring 102 with thrust bearing 108 interposedbetween rotor assembly and disk 102. Assembly 105 is normally maintainedin the axial position shown in that disk 106 is supported by stationarycontacts 109 at the inner ends of each terminal member 110a, 110b, 110e,110d extending through insulating bushings 111 in the side wall ofhousing 101.

Jet forming nozzles 112 extend through the side wall of housing 101 anddirect fluid jets toward turbine blades 107a, formed in the edge ofturbine member 107, for rotation of rotor 105. Such rotation is limitedthrough 4 engagement of radical extension 107b of turbine member 107with stop 101D projecting inwardly from the side wall of housing 101.

In the zero position shown for rotor assembly 105, diametricallyextending contactor strip 120, with the lower surface of contact carrier106, engages the contacts at the inner ends of terminal members 110a and11% to close the circuit there between. With rotor assembly 105 rotatedto the operating position (with extension 107b engaged by stop 10112)contactor cugages the contacts at the inner ends of termnial members110a and 110d.

Switch 100 is operated by applying fluid under pressure through inlet103 with such fluid flowing through the narrow space near the lower edgeof turbine member 107 and exhausting through apertures (not shown) inhousing 101. Such fluid flow raises rotor assembly 105 and provides afluid bearing thereof.

Thereafter, fluid under pressure is introduced at nozzle 112 to formfluid jets directed into turbine blades 107a to rotate rotor 105 untilextension 1071) engages stop Means are provided to defeat the fluidbearmg when extension 107b engages stop 101b. Such means COIISIStS OIIcutouts 126 in housing 101 and cutouts 127 in turbine member 107. Whencutouts 126, 127 are misaligned, as in FIGURE 6, fluid entering housingchamber 128 is eflective to provide a fluid bearing for rotor assembly105. However, when assembly 105 is rotated to the POSI- tion whereinextension 107b engages stop 101b, cutouts 127 are aligned with cutouts126 and cooperates therewith to provide relatively large outlets for thefluid in chamber 128 so that the fluid bearing collapses. Spring 102 isthen free to move rotor assembly 105 axially in a downward directionbringing contactor 120 into engagement with the contacts of terminalmembers 1100 and 110d.

Although not shown in FIGURES 5 and. 6, detent means may be provided topositively maintain rotor assembly 105 in the zero and operatingpositions thereof. Such detent means may include extensions of rotorassembly 105 which are received by appropriately positioned recesses inhousing 101 when assembly 105 is at the zero and operating positionsrespectively.

It should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that switches 10,50 and 100 may have normally closed contacts that are open when therespective switches are actuated. In the cases of switches 10 and 50 theprovision of normally closed switches will require greater fluid jetforces to pivot the rotor assemblies.

Thus, it is seen that the invention provides switch constructions inwhich a contactor carrying rotor is actuated by the momentaryapplication of fluid jets with latch means maintaining the switchactuated after the jets are inactivated.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novelinvention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent tothose skilled in the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege orproperty is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A switch device including a relatively stationary first structure; asecond structure; mounting means mounting said second structure formovement generally in a plane between a first and a second positionrelative to said first structure, and limited movement transverse tosaid plane when said second structure is in said second position; saidsecond structure including fluid jet producing means positioned todirect impingement of a fluid jet upon said second structure to movesaid second structure from said first to said second position;cooperating contact means having portions mounted to said first and saidsecond structures, respectively; said contact means being open when saidsecond structure is in one of said positions and being closed when saidsecond structure is in the other of said positions; biasing meansexerting force on said second structure in a direction transverse tosaid plane; and latch means for maintaining said second structure insaid second position after a fluid jet from said jet producing meansceases to impinge upon said second structure.

2. A switch device as set forth in claim 1 in which said mounting meansincludes a fluid bearing means.

3. A switch device as set forth in claim 2 in which said mounting meansdefines an axis about which said second structure pivots in movingbetween said positions; said mounting means permitting limited axialmovement of said second structure; said biasing means urging said secondstructure in an axial direction.

4. A switch device including a relatively stationary first structure; asecond structure; mounting means mounting said second structure formovement between a first and a second position relative to said firststructure; said first structure including fluid jet producing meanspositioned to direct impingement of a fluid jet upon said secondstructure to move said second structure from said first to said secondposition; cooperating contact means having portions mounted to saidfirst and said second structures, respectively; said contact means beingopen when said second structure is in one of said positions and beingclosed when said second structure is in the other of said positions; andlatch means for maintaining said second structure in said secondposition after a fluid jet from said jet producing means ceases toimpinge upon said second structure; a bearing assembly comprising firstand second races and mechanical bearing elements disposed between saidraces; said first and second races comprising portions of said first andsecond structures, respectively; said second structure comprising animpeller section positioned in alignment with said jet producing meanswhen said second structure is in said first position; said mountingmeans defining an axis about which said second structure pivots inmoving betwen said positions.

5. A switch device as set forth in claim 4 in which said device alsoincludes biasing means urging said second structure in an axialdirection; said latch means comprising a detent means-positioned toreceive said bearing elements when said second structure is at apredetermined angular position; said detent means constructed to permitlimited movement of said second structure in said axial direction underurging by said biasing means when said second structure is in saidpredetermined angular position.

6. A switch device as set forth in claim 5 also including another detentmeans to receive said bearing elements when said second structure is insaid first position.

7. A switch device as set forth in claim 5 in which said bearingelements constitute means axially spacing said races.

8. A switch device as set forth in claim 5 in which said bearingelements constitute means radially spacing said races. 7

9. A switch device as set forth in claim 7 in which said bearingelements are spherical and said detent means comprises depressions inone of said races.

10. A switch device as set forth in claim 9 in which said axis islocated approximately as the center of said second structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 442,385 12/1890 Neu 20081.92,826,754 3/1958 Carigan 200-81.9 2,862,076 11/1958 Bonner ZOO-81.93,226,505 12/1965 Lucas et al. 20081.9 3,239,623 3/1966 Clason ZOO-81.93,352,388 11/1967 Leiber ZOO-61.46 X 3,371,176 2/1968 Leeds.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner R. A. VANDERHYE, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R. 200-166

